Scientific Family
Onagraceae
Synonyms
Oenothera curtiflora, G. coccinea var. arizonica, G. coccinea var. epilobioides, G. coccinea var. glabra and more see SEINET.
Other common names
lizard-tail
tall gaura
velvet leaved gaura
smallflower gaura
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
6 feet
Riparian
Yes
Annual to biennial herb from a stout taproot; stem solitary, erect, coarse, branching near the top; herbage clothed with soft long hairs, sometimes glandular.
Stout taproot; stem solitary, erect, coarse, branching near the top; leaves alternate along the stems and in a basal cluster; blades lance-ovate to narrowly elliptic; flowers small, white to pink; fruit is woody capsule not splitting open.
Habitat
Found in weedy habitats such as desert washes, fields, pastures, and stream sides.
Plant Community
Riparian
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
1000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Tiny 4-petaled flowers to 3/8 inch long and 3/16 inch wide. The stamens have reddish-brown anthers. Appears in dense, hairy, bending spike-like raceme to 18 inches long. Flowers open in the evening.
Flower color
White to pink
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Lance shaped. Basal leaves appear in rosette to 8 inches long. Leaves on stem are velvety to 4 inches long.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Hard, pod-like, 4-winged, woody and nutlike. Widest near the base and does not open at maturity.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Brown